Mutual & Federal University Boat Race around the corner

Preparations are well underway for the annual Mutual & Federal University Boat Race, which will take place from 8 – 10 September in Port Alfred. This exciting event sees rowers from nine South African universities descend on this Eastern Cape town to take on the Kowie River in a series of races, culminating in an exciting final on Saturday 10 September.

“This will be the eleventh year that Mutual & Federal, a member of the Old Mutual Group, has sponsored this prestigious race, which has proved to be a highlight on the universities’ sporting calendar,” says Caroline Da Silva, Executive: Sales of Mutual & Federal. “It is a very spirited event, with students from around the country coming to support their teams. Even our brokers from the Eastern Cape come to watch the races, as the small town of Port Alfred buzzes with excitement for these three days.”

This year’s event sees rowers from nine universities participating – the universities of Johannesburg, Pretoria, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal, Rhodes, Wits, Fort Hare and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan. Last year one of the favourites, the University of Johannesburg, took home the women’s Isis Blade Trophy, while another popular team, the University of Pretoria, received the men’s historic Cambridge Rudder.

“The Mutual & Federal Universities Boat Race is the biggest regatta in the country, so training for the race begins well before September,” explains Sean Kerr, a Trustee of University Rowing. “The Kowie River itself, with its tides and sharp bends, is also renowned for being tricky and unpredictable, so the rowers spend a lot of time in Port Alfred during university holidays learning to navigate the course.” The heats begin on Thursday 8 September with some finals taking place on the Friday, building up to the main finals on Saturday. “This year’s favourites for both the men’s and women’s races are Rhodes and the Universities of Johannesburg and Cape Town while the University of Pretoria is also a strong contender in the men’s event. The Saturday finals are always eagerly anticipated and strongly supported,” adds Kerr.

The annual boat race has been hosted by the town of Port Alfred since its inception and Da Silva believes that the hospitality of this Eastern Cape community is part of what makes this event such a success. “We at Mutual & Federal would like to extend our gratitude to the people of Port Alfred who prove every year to be the perfect hosts. We would also like to thank the organisers, administrators and safety overseers who give their time and energy in making this a memorable and esteemed event year after year. We wish all the students well.”

Mutual & Federal is a member of the Old Mutual Group.